In which a group of graying eternal amateurs discuss their passions, interests and obsessions, among them: movies, art, politics, evolutionary biology, taxes, writing, computers, these kids these days, and lousy educations.

Blowhard Francis Morrone will be hosting and moderating an Institute for Classical Architecture symposium this Saturday. The topic: "Changing Attitudes in Historical Preservation." The lineup: impressive. The place: the New York School of Interior Design, 170 East 70th Street. The time: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

It's a great subject -- tricky, fraught, and controversial. The conversations and talks by participants should set off showers of brain sparks. You can read more about the symposium and sign up to attend here.

But that makes me wonder...what if we started running 2blowhard live cultural events in NYC and L.A.? It might be fun to take this beyond cyberspace.

Any reactions?

Posted by: Friedrich von Blowhard on October 13, 2004 11:22 PM

A smashing idea. May I select the obscure Eastern European art films?

Posted by: Maureen on October 13, 2004 11:37 PM

That's what I have proposed, some time ago, and I volunteered to start with second annual Open House New York last weekend (when Mr.Morrone was giving very informative tours at Municipal Art Society, btw) - but was received with no enthusiasm....

Posted by: Tatyana on October 14, 2004 8:35 AM

"Believe me, that was a happy age, before the days of architects, before the days of builders."

I'm always puzzled by the expression
"theory of historic preservation." Why
do you need a theory for what is essentially a hands-on activity?

Posted by: Herbert O'Rourke on October 16, 2004 12:38 AM

I am so very tempted to say "Mr. O'Rourke, this symposium will answer all your questions" - but I'll leave it to professional preservationists.

In a meanwhile, as a prerequisite, can I recommend a book on a subject?

It gives in concise form not only theoretical premise and methodology for preservaion or rehabilitation strategy, but hands-on how-to material, helpful resources and even legal advice for historical property owners.

As an interior designer, I find it indispensible.

Posted by: Tatyana on October 16, 2004 11:58 AM

I have a number of such books, including ones by Roger Moss of the
Philadelphia Atheneum and a couple
of volumes from Winterthur. But any
such conference sounds like an excuse for a bunch of academic eggheads to get together and hobnob.

Posted by: Herbert O'Rourke on October 16, 2004 2:24 PM

It very well could be, HOR. The only way to find out is to be there.
Sound like "live cultural report" is in order...

Posted by: Tatyana on October 16, 2004 2:46 PM

HOR, where do you see the line "theory of historic preservation"? I didn't cath it in the link.

That would tie into what sounds like a very interesting question about what styles are compatible with a historic building?

"The central issue is the requirement by some current preservation statutes and guidelines that new construction in historic settings reflect a stylistic difference with respect to the historical design. This difference is often expressed as a requirement that new work reflect the architecture "of our time," with the assumption being that only modernist design meets this standard. But just what the architecture of our time is can no longer be taken for granted."

It's an interesting point. And answring it does raise the "theory?" of why do we preserve in the first place?